Energy-translating device fob breech mechanisms



D. F. ASBUR Y.

ENERGY TRANSLATING DEVICE FOR BREECH MECHANISMS. APPLICATION FILED APR.13. 1916.

1 23,947. Patented Dec. 2, 1919.

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, D. F. ASBURY.

ENERGY TRANSLATING DEVICE FOR BREECH MECHANISMS.

Patented Dec. 2, 1919.

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ILI 32H n. F. ASBURY. ENERGY TRANSLATING DEVICE FOR BREEC H MECHANISMS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 13, I916.

Patented Dec. 2, 1919.

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barren snares ATEN'I OFFICE.

DORSEY F. ASBURY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR T 0 UNITED STATES ORDNANCE COMPANY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, A COR- PORATION OF VIRGINIA.

ENERGY-TRANSLATING DEVICE FOR, BREECI-I MECHANISMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 2, 1919.

Application filed April 13, 1916. Serial No. 90,891.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that. I, DORSEY F. ASBURY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvement-s in Energy-Translating Devices for Breech Mechanisms; and I do hereby declare thefollowing tobe a full, clear, and eXact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to energy translating devices for breech mechanisms.

The objects of my invention are to translate the energy stored in the carrier while it moves toward closed position to energy to move the plug longitudinally with respect to the carrier as the latter approaches its closed position; to translate the energy of the moving carrierto plug sliding en-' ergy; to accelerate the movement of the plug into the breech by the reactionary energy derived from retarding the carrier as the latter approaches the breech; to provide means carried by the mechanism and reacting from the gun to translate the movement of the mechanism toward the breech to increase the velocity of the plug into the breech and thereby arrest the carrier; to use the momentum of the carrier to move the plug longitudinally with respect to the carrier as each move toward the breech; to bring the carrier to rest against the gun without slam by using its momentum to react from the gun to move the plug longitudinally with respect to the carrier; to

invention the scope whereof is pointed out in the claims Figure 1 is a horizontal section of a gun embodying my invention, the parts being in the position they would occupy when the breech is being closed and the energy translating devices just beginning to act; I

Fig. 2, a View similar to Fig. 1 with the parts in the position they would occupy just as the carrier. reaches its closed position;

Fig. 3, a rear elevation of a gun embodying my invention with the parts in the p0sition shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4, a sectional view on the line 4-4: of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 5, a section on the line 55 of Fig. 3 with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1-.

Referring to the drawings A is the gun, B the breech plug, and C the swinging car rier which latter embodies a spindle C; The plugB is mounted on the spindle C for both rotatable and longitudinal move ments. Slidable in the bore of the spindle C is the stem 10 of a mushroom '11 and confined between the plug B and mushroom 11 is a gas check 12.

The plug B is adapted to be rotated by means of a crank shaft 13 operatively connected to a crosshead 1 1 slidably mounted in a cros'shead bearing 14 formed in the breech plug B and rotated through the medium of a handle 15 all as fully described in U. S. Letters Patent 1,020,849 granted to George L. Smith and myself March 19, 1912. It will however be observed that I can employ any suitable means for rotating the plug. I V

For translating the longitudinal movement of the plug relatively to the carrier to rotary movement during closing of the ranged and operated as fully described in my co-pending application filed March 15 1916 and serially numbered 8&348.

My present invention particularly embodies a rocking cam 18 mounted on the carrier through the medium of a spindle 19. One end 20 of this cam reacts against the gun and the other end 21 against the plug. The spindle 19 carries a latch arm 22 which coacts with a shoulder 23 on the crosshead bearing 14 to hold the plug against muzzleward longitudinal movement during movement of the carrier not effected by the rocking cam 18.

In closing the breech mechanism the initial operation of the rocking cam 18 occurs when the carrier reaches the position shown in Fig. 1. In this position of the parts the end 20 of the rocking cam enters into initial engagement with a suitable bearing plate 2% fixed on the rear face of the gun. Continued closing movement of the carrier will then rock the cam 18 and the end :21 thereof will act against the plug and move the latter longitudinally with respect to the carrier. During this longitudinal movement of the plug the cam device M will operate to translate the longitudinal movement of the plug to rotary locking mov ment. In opening the breech the rotary movement imparted to the plug by the operation of the crank shaft 13 will be translated to longitudinal movement of the cam device M. This longitudinal movement of the plug in opening the breech will rock the cam 18 and the end 20 of the latter acting against the plate 241 will initiate the opening swing of the carrier. At the termination of the longitudinal movement of the plug in opening the breech the latch arm 22 will engage against the shoulder 28 and hold the plug B against muzzleward longitudinal movement relative to the carrier during all movements of the carrier that are not efi'ected by the rocking cam 18. It will be noted that in closing the breech the action of the rocking cam 18 serves to retard the movement of the carrier to prevent slamming and at the same time initiates muzzleward longitudinal movement of the plug and accelerates the velocity of such movement. It will be further noted that the rocking cam 18 is so shaped and arranged as to retard the carrier and accelerate the plug in inverse ratio and vice versa.

What is claimed is 1. In a breech mechanism for guns, the

combination of a movable carrier, a rotatableplug movable longitudinally relative to the carrier, and means operating independently of rotation of the plug during movement of the carrier toward the gun breech to move the plug longitudinally with respect to the carrier.

2. In a movable breech mechanism for guns, the combination of a plug movable longitudinally relative to the other parts of the breech mechanism irrespective of the 'plugs other movements, and means operating during movement of the breech mechanism toward the gun to move the plug longitudinally.

3. In a breech mechanism, the combination of a movable carrier, a rotatable and longitudinally movable breech plug, and means operating independently of the rotation of the plug during carrier movement to translate the energy in the carrier to move the plug longitudinally with respect to the carrier.

1. In a breech mechanism, the combination of a movable carrier, a rotatable and longitudinally movable breech plug, and means operating independently of the rotation of the plug during carrier movement to translate the energy stored in the carrier to help move the plug longitudinally with respect to the carrier.

5. In a gun, the combination of a movable breech mechanism including a rotatable plug slidable longitudinally with respect to the other parts of the breech mechanism, and means operating independently of the rotation of the plug during movement of the breech mechanism to initiate sliding movement of the plug with respect to the other parts of the breech mechanism.

6. In a movable breech mechanism for guns, the combination of a plug slidable longitudinally relative to the other parts of the breech mechanism irrespective of the plugs other movements, and means operating during movement of the breech mechanism to initiate sliding movement of the plug.

7. In a gun, the combination of a breech mechanism, the parts of which are adapted for bodily movement in unison, said mechanism including a plug sildable relative to the other parts of the breech mechanism irrespective of the plugs other movements, and means operating during movement of the breech mechanism to initiate sliding movement of the plug.

8. In a gun, the combination of a movable breechmechanism including a breech plug movable longitudinally irrespective of the plugs other movements relative to the other parts of the breech mechanism, and a lever on the breech mechanism reacting against the gun and acting against the plug to push the latter longitudinally with respect to the other parts of the breech mechanism during closing movement of the breech mechanism.

9. In a gun, the combination of a movablebreech mechanism including a breech plug movable longitudinally with respect to the other parts of the breech mechanism, and a lever pivoted on the breech mechanism reacting against the gun and acting directly against the plug to push the plug forward with respect to the other parts of the breech mechanism during closing movement of the breech mechanism,

' '10. "In a gun, the combination of a movable breech mechanism including a breech plug movable longitudinally with respect to the other parts ofthe breech mechanism irrespective ofthe'plugs other movements, and a lever reacting against the guniand acting directly against the plug to push the plug forward with respect tothe other parts of the breech mechanism during closing movement of the breech .mechanism.

11. Ina gun, the combination of a -movable breech mechanism including a rotatable plug movable longitudinally irrespective of the plugs other movements relative to the other parts of the breech mechanism, and a lever reacting from the gun to push the plug longitudinally'with respect tothe other parts of the breech mechanism during movement of the breech mechanism.

'12. In' a gun, the combination of amovable breech mechanism includinga rotatable plug movable longitudinally irrespectiveof the plugs other movements relatively to the other parts of the breech mechanism, and a lever reacting from the gun and acting directly againstthe plug to move the latter longitudinally with respect to the other parts of the. breech mechanism during movement of the breech mechanism.

13. In a gun, the combination of a movable breech mechanism including a plug movable variably longitudinally with respect to the mechanism, and means reacting from an element fixed relatively to the gun and acted on by the plug during longitudinal movement of the latter to move the breech mechanism relatively to t e gun.

14. In a gun, the combination of a movable breech mechanism including a plug movable longitudinally with respect tothe mechanism, and means reacting from an element fixed relatively to the gun and acted on by the longitudinal movement of the plug to move the breech mechanism relatively to the gun.

15. In a gun, the combination of a movable breech mechanism including a rotatable plug movable longitudinally with respect to r the other parts of the mechanism and means for translating the energy of the moving breech mechanism to accelerate the movement of the plug toward the gun.

16. In agun, the combination of a movable breech mechanism including a rotatable and longitudinally movable plug, means for translating the energy of the rotating plug to move the plug longitudinally, and a second means for translating the energy due to longitudinal movement of the plug to energy to move the breech mechanism.

17. In a gun, the combination of a hinged carrier, a rotatable breech plug mounted on the carrier for movement longitudinally with respect to the latter, and means acting independently of the rotation of the plug for translating the,energy of the swinging carrier to the plug to move the latter lon gitudinally toward the gun andwith respect to the carrier. r

18. In a gun, the combination of a movable breech mechanism including a breech plug movable longitudinally relative to the other parts of the breech mechanism irrespective of the plugs other movements, and means for translating the energy of the .moving breech mechanism to the plug to move the latter longitudinally toward the gun and with respect to the other partsof the breech mechanism.

19. In a gun,the combination of a hinged carrier, a breech plug mounted on the carrier for longitudinal movement, and means for translating the energy due to longitudinai movement of the plug to carrier swinging energy.

20. In a gun, the combination of a movable breech mechanism including a plug movable independently of the breech mechble breech mechanism including a rotatable I breech plug mounted for longitudinal movement with respect to the other parts of the breech mechanism, and means acting independently of the rotation. of the plug for moving the lug longitudinally during movement of the breech mechanism;

23. In a gun, the combination of a movable breech mechanism including a rotatable breech plug movable longitudinally with respect to the other parts of the breech mechanism, and a device on the mechanism acting independently of the rotation of the plug and reacting from the gun tomove the plug longitudinally during movement of the breech mechanism toward the gun.

24. In a gun, the combination of a movable breech mechanism including a plug movable longitudinally with respect to the other parts of the breech mechanism, and means directly operated by relative rearward movement of the plug to initiate rearward movement of the breech mechanism.

25. In a gun, the combination of a movable breech mechanism including a plug movable longitudinally with respect to the other parts of the breech mechanism, and means reacting from the gun and operating during final closing movement of the mechanism to increase the i elocity of the plug toward the breech. V

26. In a gun, the combination of a breech mechanism including a hinged carrier, a plug movable longitudinally with respect to the carrier, and means acting during closing movement of the carrier to simultaneously retard the latter and increase the velocity of the plug toward the breech.

27. In a gun, the combination of a breech mechanism including a carrier, a plug movable longitudinally with respect to the carrier, and means acting during closing of the carrier to increase the velocity of the plug toward the breech over the velocity of the plug and carrier prior to the action of said means.

28. In a gun, the combination of a movable breech mechanism including a breech plug, and means for increasing the velocity of the plug into the breech with respect to the velocity thereof incident to the normal unitary closing movement of the plug and mechanism.

29. In a gun, the combination of a movable breech mechanism including a plug movable longitudinally with respect to the other parts of the breech mechanism, and means operated by rearward longitudinal movement of the plug to accelerate rearward movement of the breech mechanism.

30. In a gun, the combination of a movable carrier, a plug movable longitudinally with respect to the carrier, and means operated by the rearward longitudinal movement of the plug and acting against the gun to initiate opening movement of the carmen 31. In a gun, the combination of a movable breech mechanism including a rotatable plug movable longitudinally with respect to the other parts of the mechanism, means for translating the energy of the moving breech tudinally movable plug, and means operating during movement of the carrier toward the gun breech to move the plug longitudinally with respect to the carrier, said means operating so that successive unit carrier movements produce varying amounts of plug movements.

33. In a gun, the combination of a movable breech mechanism including a plug movable with respect to the other parts of the breech mechanism in a longitudinal direc'tion, and means operated by retarding and arresting the longitudinal movement of the plug with respect to the breech mechanism to initiate and accelerate rearward movement of the breech mechanism.

34. In a breech mechanism, the combination of a movable carrier, a plug movable longitudinally with respect to the carrier, means for retarding the movement of the carrier, said means acting against the plug to move same longitudinally with respect to the carrier, and a second means acting to rotate the plug while it is moved longitudinally during retardation of the carrier.

35. In a gun, the combination of a movable carrier, a plug movable longitudinally with respect to the carrier, and means operated by rearward longitudinal movement of the plug and acting against the gun to initiate and'accelerate the opening movement of the carrier.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affiX my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

DORSEY F. ASBURY. Witnesses:

A. G. Lnnon, J12,

EDITH SToWnLL. 

